The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-05
TROUBLES OF THE JOHNSONS
Features of the Drivers Strike That Are
Causing Them Much Annoyance.
ing to 20 That Will Give the Monopo-
lists Great Deal of Trouble.

The street.car company thinks that the
strike is substantially settled far as it is con-
cerned, the drivers, it is said, are reach
ing efficiency that renders the experience of
the strikers of no value Whatever to the COM
pany. But the strikers who wish to come back
find trouble in getting places, unless they
ask to have their return made conditional.
One of them said to Foreman Lewis yesterday;
Il am tired of being out of work, and intend to
go into the country for three or four days.
When return l will be ready to so to work if
you save my old car for me-"
II told him." said Lewis "that he might take
the chance of getting his old car, but if a new
driver had it the latter would not be turned off
to please him"
care your drivers still annoyed"
'.Now and then. The drivers are being
disturbed, particularly by the cry of 'scab' The
old ones do not mind it SO much, but everything
is being done to induce the new men to quit If
persuasion fails. they greeted with the scab
cry, and occasionally have potatoes and
sometimes stones thrown at them. But they
main at work. and have been thus far satsfac-
tory. l think we will be able to get along with
out the strikers The most of the annoyances,
though, come from men who have never been in
the employ of the company" In addition to
the epithets, stones and potatoes, the placing of
torpedoes on the tracks is favorite amuse-
ment There is also effort Of considerable
force to lessen the receipts of the company by
refusing to put the fares in the boxes. The pas
sengers who follow this course tell the drivers
that they can collect the nickles, but the money
will not be placed in the box 1t does
not appear to driver on undertaking
cleared. especially when there are ten
or dozen passengers of the same mind
about paying to one but conductor or the
driver acting in that capacity The driver has
not only incidents of this kind to harass him, but
the strikers spoilers seem to be ubiquitous. 1t
is difficult to tell when two or more of these men
may be around TO see whether the streets are
called If n street is passed In SIN
gle instance without being called BY
ths driver, down goes his name on the list of
delinGuents, and when the number is sufficient:
warrants of arrest obtained and
served Yesterday afternoon drivers Thomas
Clegg, Joseph Willis. John Oldham. Michael
Zingsmaster and James Feneral were arrested,
bat they were not taken from their cars. Man
ager Steele at once gave bond for their appear
ance IN court, and they resumed work. Several
more arrests are to be made. and from the ease
kind it seems that the ordinance is only sporadic
ally obeyed. Before the Mayor, yesterday, seven
drivers were brought in on this charge. but only
two of them, Dutch" Henry and John Winter
grast, were fined. John S. Duncan, who APP
peared for the company in their defense,
said that the company had been forced to en-
plOy men ignorant or the names OF the sueoIs.
The Mayor said that he could not consider that
as extenuasing violation of the ordinance. 1T
is easy matter" he said. 'for the company to
employ men conductors who are familiar with
the streets. If it puts men to work who cannot
do this service, the company should stand be-
tween them and the result of q failure to call
the streets" In other cases disnissals were en-
tered. because the complaining witnesses failed
to appear. 1t is said that of the latter
have gone back to work for the company.
While the company may think it is recovering
from the strike, another difficulty of more force
is coming to meet it. At the next meeting of
the Council, several measures are to be intro
duced that promise to cause a radical change in
the treatment by the Council of the company's
affairs far as they relate to the public. Eff
forts are to be made to give the question
whether the company can be made to employ
under its charter, thorough consid
Grafton. 1t is also proposed 10 stop
the use Of bob-tail cars, and the
committee street railroads is to be called on
TO report several matters which it has had in
it's keeping for q long time 1t IS suggested that
Colonel Johnson's troubles with the Council are
only beginning. and that among the first things
ne will be required to do will be to complete the
street line to Twelfth street He is
also to have an opportunity to state his reasons
Why he will not build line to Crown Hill